PARIS

Jean-Luc Melenchon, a leading figure of the French left, announced that he will be in The Hague on Thursday to participate in a major international initiative for peace in Gaza. 

In a statement, the founder of France Unbowed (LFI) stated that he was invited by the Progressive International Movement, a group of progressive left-wing organizations and activists, to attend the first hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. This hearing, beginning on Thursday, will examine a complaint filed by South Africa on Dec. 29, 2023, accusing Israel of committing "genocidal crimes" in the Gaza Strip.

Melenchon will represent France in a South African delegation at the top UN court.

In a statement, Melenchon explained that this referral to the top court is part of the 1948 Charter for the Prevention and Prohibition of Genocides, ratified by the two concerned countries and France. The goal is to put an end to the current hostilities in Gaza, according to the leftist politician. The Netanyahu government will present its defense the following day.

Accompanied by Arnaud Le Gall, LFI deputy and coordinator at the French National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, Melenchon emphasized his commitment to respecting the international law order established by the UN.

He highlighted his party's choice for an approach based on "unwavering political principles, regardless of the actors involved", and a rejection of forceful policies or conflictual theories such as the "clash of civilizations."

He claims to represent, through this initiative, all French people who favor peace and political solutions over war and violence.

The first hearing at the ICJ is set to begin on Thursday, while the Gaza Strip has been embroiled in a fierce war for over three months.

Since last fall, the Israeli army has waged a devastating war against Gaza, killing 23,357 people and injuring 59,410, mostly children and women.

The relentless bombings by the Israeli armed forces have caused "massive destruction of infrastructure and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster," according to UN and Palestinian sources.

Interviewed this Tuesday by Anadolu, the president of LFI in the French National Assembly, Mathilde Panot, recalled that 160 children died every day in the Gaza Strip in December 2023.

Describing a "horrifying" situation in Gaza, Panot called on the French Executive to seize the opportunity of its current presidency of the United Nations Security Council "to advance the issue of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in Palestine.

The leader of the LFI deputies also called on France to "support the initiative taken by South Africa," which filed a complaint on Dec. 29, 2023, against Israel for "genocide" in Gaza at the ICJ.